Delta 5 : Mind Your Own Business
taken from the compilation Disco Not Disco on Strut (2008)

Set The Tone : Dance Sucker (Francois K Mix)
taken from the compilation Funky Nassau on Strut (2008)

Sonora Casino : Astronautas A Mercurio
taken from the compilation Obsession on Bully (2008)

The Funkees : Akula Owu Onyeara
taken from the compilation Nigeria Special on Soundway (2007)

Juan Bautista : Estoy Aqui Pero No Soy Yo
taken from the compilation Bachata Roja on iASO (2007)

Is it just me, or are there a higher percentage of compilations to new releases nowadays? It feels like the market for re-issued recordings is catching up with the market for brand new material- could just be my twisted, old-timer perspective though. Whatever the case may be statistics-wise, I’m certainly happy that there are so many other people devoting themselves to putting together great collections like these.

STRUT RECORDS IS BACK! And I’m gonna shout about it. These guys put out some really enlightening comps when I was first getting into DJ-ing, and then in ’03 they closed up shop. This latest enstallment of the Disco Not Disco series brings us more hard to find indie 12″ cuts from an era when lenghty dubbed-out, electro dance music could be considered punk. On Funky Nassau, Strut pulled together a wide range of work from Chris Blackwell’s Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas to shed some light on a scene that I have always had a soft spot for. From big names like The Talking Heads and Grace Jones to lesser-knowns like Guy Cuevas, this record captures some of the best fusions of dub and new wave that came out in the early 80’s. It’s the sound of of NYC’s greatest party acts chilling out on the beach in a cloud of weed smoke with some of reggae’s MVP’s (Blackwell & Sly Dunbar).

The Obsession comp was tastefully pulled together by Mike at Academy Records, which has long been one of my favorite places to get schooled on cool records- and often take them home at reasonable rates. Wild psych monsters from the far reaching corners of obscurity is the bill here, and there’s really nothing short of behemoth in the line-up. Track by track liner notes with cool pics help too. This track from Sonora Casino is one that I’d heard about as a mythological anomaly for quite some time now, and finally can listen to on repeat!

Soundway really don’t need much introduction or explanation on this site. Everytime they put something out you can guarantee that you’ll be getting more than your money’s worth. These dudes are some of the heaviest collectors out there. While the set this time is less focussed on funk and dancefloor material, the overall vibe and richness of sounds is top quality.

And finally, something that is long overdue: a collection of old school acoustic bachata! Some readers might remember my discovery of Luis Segura a few years back on a trip to the Dominican Republic. And while I do not intend in anyway to detract from that man’s genius, I also have always had the nagging suspicion that his sound was part of a bigger scene that I needed to dive into. The soulful, pleading falsetto. The bouncing bongo taps and staccato guitar plucks. THIS IS THAT SCENE! The music that was banned under Trujillo, that survived in the campos and made it to the city and finally onto records in the 60’s. And to my knowledge, this is the first time that any of these songs have been available outside the DR. Thank you iASO.

Edwin Starr: Get Up Whirlpool
Taken from the 12″ on 20th Century (1980)

Ripple: I Don’t Know What It Is (But It Sure Is Funky)
Taken from the self-titled LP on GRC (1973)

Sun: Fall Out On The Dancefloor
Taken from the album Eclipse on Air City Records (1984)

Jim: I’m A Baller and How Do You Like It
Taken from the album Long Time Comin’ (2007)

Today we indulge in some guilty pleasures of synthesizer-imbued fonkery. A few notes on the selections:

The Edwinn Starr joint I recently came upon and fell in love with instantly. Though the song never really blossoms beyond the riff and the tranced-out vocal, I can make certain allowances. You can’t get too mad at the guy who wrote “War”.

Doesn’t really fall into the “synthetic” realm per se, but the Ripple jam is an absolute classic. You should own this record. Oh-la oh-la-ay, suckas.

“Fallout” is taken off the last record that Sun recorded before sadly biting the dust. After repeated attempts with various labels and even despite having enlisted the support of the Ohio Players, who are credited on the back of this LP, the Daytonians called it quits in the year of my birth… but not before leaving us with this gem. Also, this LP ranks very high on my current list of favorite album art. Check out that magic!

Lastly, and certainly not leastly, Jim. A random find and a truly guilty pleasure (listen to the lyrics on “How Do U Want It” and you’ll see what I mean). But I get gushy like an girlscout at the first intimation of voice-box-ery and these songs go no-holds-barred in that department. (Don’t know the difference between a Voice Box, a Vocoder and Pitch Correction? Ask the Captain. He explained it all to me.) . Plus, I love the idea of the guy (JIM! What a name!) sitting in his basement, not in 1982 but last year, finally getting around to paying homage to Roger Troutman. Been a long time comin’, indeed.

And don’t forget: TONIGHT IS BOOGALOO!

Ok, we had to push this back two weeks but we’re finally ready to give Boogaloo[L.A.] the grand launch it’s deserved. Me and Murphy’s Law have been at the Short Stop for just over a month now and getting settled into the space but we really want to kick this off proper. The goal here is to build the night into something special – a destination for your Thursday night. We would very much like to get out as many people for our grand launch as possible – just to set the tone right, help spread the word, etc. etc.

For starters, ML and I have been at work on creating a special mix-CD just for the launch. Hopefully, we’ll get it done in time but I solemnly pledge that we will have SOME kind of giveaway that evening (I still have a grip of Daptone Records Remixed CDs plus my own CDs we can give out, if need be.

Regardless, we want to blow the place out that evening so if you can make an excuse to roll through, roll through!

Thursday, March 20th
The Short Stop
1455 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Echo Park)
10pm – 2am
FREE!

Mel Williams : With A Little Help From My Friends
taken from the album “Stranger In Paradise” on Wampus (197?)

Eugene Paul : Chain Gang
taken from the 12″ on Third World (198?)

I don’t know a nickel’s worth about either of these artists, so I won’t front like I do. But both of them offered me a much appreciated respite in a time of need. I love how Mel has completely changed the tempo and swing of the whole song. Despite the poor recording quality, he really strikes a nerve when (right around 1:35) he lays behind on the beat and then jumps right back on top of it. The Eugene Paul cut, produced by Winston Curtis, has some serious gall to even dare take on a classic of such epic proportions. And while the production quality here might also distract some listeners, by the arrival of the first verse, I was entirely sold. When else has Sam Cooke received the raggae version? I’m running a blank. The 12″ also contains a nice rendition of “Wonderful World” and a not so nice B-side called “Rock Me”.

*** ALSO CHECK THE BLOGROLL UPDATE! ***
Finally. Some cool new ones I’ve been checking are added to the list at the right and some that are now defunkt or infrequent have been removed.

Kikin Bakk: more funk, soul & latin heat.

Missing Toof: electro, mash-up & dancefloor food.

One Day Later: home of U-Tern and his boogie & electro selections.

DJ Delights home of DJ Anonymous and a wide array of danceable tracks.

Sunny and the Sunliners: Soul Pride + Cissy Strut
From The Missing Link (Key-Loc, 197?)

I wanted to thank everyone for their support in picking up one our CDs. As a gesture of my gratitude, I decided to slip out another of the “top shelf” records with two cuts off this Sunny and the Sunliners LP. The group was based around San Antonio and had a long, healthy career, releasing singles and albums on the Key-Loc label. (Later, group member Rudy Guerra would go onto found a similar band, The Latin Breed, who are equal legends in the Texas funk scene, especially with their releases on GCP.

Like most of Sunny and the Sunliners albums from this era, Missing Link is a mix of Tex-Mex ranchera songs with a few odd soul and funk tunes mixed in. Apart from the two songs included above, there’s also a slower, instrumental cut, “Boo Boo” and a midtempo funk tune, “Pressure Cooker” (good name). I appreciate that diversity and seeming eclecticism though I know, for the group, there likely was no contradiction in them playing a Norteño track one minute and a soul one the next.

Their cover of “Soul Pride” is pretty loyal – a good funk slammer, no doubt – but their version of “Cissy Strut” is something fierce, especially with their addition of the “Sing a Simple Song” horn bridge (nice). Is it my favorite cover of this Meters classic? Tough call – I do dig the new elements they throw in but I might have to stick with the Hoctor cover (and don’t sleep on the Trinidad Steel Drum Band’s either).

Mon Rivera : Lluvia Con Nieve &
Bobby Valentin : Coco Seco
taken from the compilation Fania DJ Series: Gilles Peterson on Fania (2007)

Nonato E Seu Conjunto : Tereco &
Freesom Orquestra : Rush
taken from the compilation Ultimate Brazilian Breaks & Beats #2 on Adventures In Paradise (2007)

I realize this is a late notice, but so was my spur of the minute decision to come out to L.A. to visit young Murphy. It was no coincidence that my trip happens to overlap with another Boogaloo session at The Shortstop, but rather divine intervention, I merely heeded the call. So if you’re like me and desperately need to shake loose some stodge, and are in the L.A. area, then come through and show some love and say hello. We’ll be spinning songs like these ones above, as well as tons of other musical firecrackers, amongst a moving crowd of dancers and friendly folk (look out for O-Dub!). Both brothers side by side behind the turntables = MAYHEM.

Just one note about the songs: I’ve been meaning to post this Mon Rivera cut for like 2 years now as it’s one of the select few songs that I manage to play without fail every single week, and never seem to tire of. LISTEN TO THOSE TROMBONES!!!